A method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system is described. The method comprises, at the network element: transmitting a first portion of subframes comprising a number of resource blocks to a first wireless communication unit in a first mode of operation, wherein the number of resource blocks are transmitted at a first power level per resource block; and transmitting, a second portion of subframes to a second wireless communication unit in a second mode of operation at a second power level, wherein the second portion of subframes comprise a lower number of resource blocks than the first portion of subframes and the lower number of resource blocks is transmitted at a second power level per resource block that is higher than the first power level per resource block.
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1. A method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, the method comprising, at a network element: transmitting a signal on a frequency carrier to a wireless communication unit capable of operating in a first extended coverage mode of operation and a second non-extended coverage mode of operation wherein the signal comprises at least one resource block; and transmitting an information block to the wireless communication unit, wherein the information block comprises: a first indication of a number of resource blocks that are active within a communication cell of the wireless communication system; and a second indication of a number of resource blocks per subcarrier used for coverage limited wireless communication units, wherein the second indication is of a reduced first number of resource blocks when operating in the first extended coverage mode of operation compared to a second number of resource blocks when the wireless communication unit is operating in the second non-extended coverage mode of operation.
A wireless communication system increases coverage by having a base station (network element) transmit signals to a wireless device (user equipment). The base station communicates a signal with at least one resource block on a frequency carrier to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes. The base station also sends an information block containing two pieces of information: the total number of active resource blocks in the cell, and the number of resource blocks allocated to devices needing extended coverage. The number of resource blocks for extended coverage devices is lower than the number used in normal coverage mode. This enables better coverage for devices at the edge of the network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the signal comprises transmitting the signal at a higher power level per resource block than in the non-extended coverage mode of operation.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, involves transmitting the signal with at least one resource block at a higher power level per resource block when the wireless device is in extended coverage mode than when it is in normal coverage mode. This boosts the signal strength for devices at the edge of the network to improve communication reliability.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a power requirement of multiple wireless communication units and scheduling the second number of resource blocks based at least on the determined power requirement of a second wireless communication unit.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, further includes the base station determining the power requirements of multiple wireless devices and scheduling the number of resource blocks based on the power requirements of a device needing extended coverage. The base station uses the determined power requirements to schedule the resource blocks for the wireless device.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving from a plurality of wireless communication units at least one from a group comprising: a path loss measurement, a channel quality indication, an indication of the transmit power that a wireless communication unit is applying and determining different numbers of resource blocks that are to be transmitted in the signal to the plurality of wireless communication units in response thereto.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, further includes the base station receiving information from wireless devices such as path loss measurements, channel quality indications, or transmit power indications, and adjusting the number of resource blocks assigned to each wireless device based on that information. The base station uses these metrics to dynamically allocate resources.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising requesting from the plurality of wireless communication units at least one from a group comprising: a path loss measurement, an indication of the transmit power that a wireless communication unit is applying a channel quality indication, using a restricted number of resource blocks.
The method where the base station receives information such as path loss, transmit power, or channel quality indications to determine the different number of resource blocks for the plurality of wireless devices, includes the base station requesting path loss measurements, transmit power indications, or channel quality indications from the wireless devices using a limited number of resource blocks. This is to reduce overhead when probing devices for channel conditions.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning a plurality of wireless communication units to subframes that are transmitting at a suitable transmit power level per resource block.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, involves the base station assigning multiple wireless devices to subframes based on the transmit power level per resource block. Devices requiring higher power are scheduled in subframes with higher transmit power.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising successively reducing the number of resource blocks that are to be transmitted in the signal to maintain communication with the wireless communication unit.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, further includes the base station successively reducing the number of resource blocks being transmitted to maintain communication with a particular wireless device. As signal quality degrades, the base station reduces allocated resource blocks to concentrate power and extend range.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first indication comprises a non-integer value of physical resource block being used in the signal.
In the method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, the indication of the number of active resource blocks includes a non-integer value. This allows for finer granularity in resource allocation.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first indication comprises an indication of less than a single physical resource block being used in the signal.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system that uses a non-integer indication of active resource blocks, includes the base station using an indication of less than a single physical resource block. This allows for even finer granularity and more efficient resource utilization.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising scheduling a first control channel region in a first portion of subframes for a given frame and scheduling a second separate control channel region in a second portion of subframes for the given frame, wherein the signal indicating a number of resource blocks that are being transmitted by the network element is transmitted in the second portion of subframes.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, involves scheduling a first control channel region in a first set of subframes and a second, separate control channel region in a second set of subframes. The signal indicating the number of transmitted resource blocks is transmitted within the second portion of subframes. This separates control signaling for different coverage modes.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the signal comprises transmitting the signal within at least one from a group comprising: almost blank subframes, multimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, includes the base station transmitting the signal within almost blank subframes or multimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes. This minimizes interference with other data transmissions.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system is a long term evolution communication system.
The method for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, where the base station transmits signals to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, is applied to a long term evolution (LTE) communication system. The invention can be implemented within the existing LTE framework.
13. A non-transitory tangible computer program product comprising executable code stored therein for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, wherein the code is operable for, when executed at a network element, performing the method of claim 1 .
A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium contains code that, when executed on a network element, performs the method of transmitting a signal with at least one resource block on a frequency carrier to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes, and transmitting an information block containing: the total number of active resource blocks in the cell, and the number of resource blocks allocated to devices needing extended coverage, wherein the number of resource blocks for extended coverage devices is lower than the number used in normal coverage mode.
14. A network element for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, the network element comprising a transceiver operably coupled to a control processor, wherein the control processor is arranged to: transmit a signal on a frequency carrier to a wireless communication unit capable of operating in a first extended coverage mode of operation and a second non-extended coverage mode of operation wherein the signal comprises at least one resource block; and transmit an information block to the wireless communication unit, wherein the information block comprises: a first indication of a number resource blocks that are active within a communication cell of the wireless communication system; and a second indication of a number of resource blocks per subcarrier used for coverage limited wireless communication units, wherein the second indication is of a reduced first number of resource blocks when operating in the first extended coverage mode of operation compared to a second number of resource blocks when the wireless communication unit is operating in the second non-extended coverage mode of operation.
A network element in a wireless communication system includes a transceiver and a control processor. The control processor transmits a signal with at least one resource block on a frequency carrier to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes. The control processor also transmits an information block containing: the total number of active resource blocks in the cell, and the number of resource blocks allocated to devices needing extended coverage, wherein the number of resource blocks for extended coverage devices is lower than the number used in normal coverage mode. This manages coverage based on the UE capabilities.
15. An integrated circuit for a network element for increasing coverage in a wireless communication system, the integrated circuit comprising a control processor, wherein the control processor is arranged to: transmit a signal on a frequency carrier to a wireless communication unit capable of operating in a first extended coverage mode of operation and a second non-extended coverage mode of operation wherein the signal comprises at least one resource block; and transmit an information block to the wireless communication unit, wherein the information block comprises: a first indication of a number of resource blocks that are active within a communication cell of the wireless communication system; and a second indication of a number of resource blocks per subcarrier being used for coverage limited wireless communication units, wherein the second indication is of a reduced first number of resource blocks when operating in the first extended coverage mode of operation compared to a second number of resource blocks when the wireless communication unit is operating in the second non-extended coverage mode of operation.
An integrated circuit for a network element contains a control processor. The control processor transmits a signal with at least one resource block on a frequency carrier to a wireless device that can operate in both extended and normal coverage modes. The control processor also transmits an information block containing: the total number of active resource blocks in the cell, and the number of resource blocks allocated to devices needing extended coverage, wherein the number of resource blocks for extended coverage devices is lower than the number used in normal coverage mode. This IC enables the network element to provide extended coverage capabilities.
16. A method for communicating in an increased coverage area in a wireless communication system, the method comprising, at a wireless communication unit capable of operating in a first extended coverage mode of operation and a second non-extended coverage mode of operation: receiving a signal on a frequency carrier from a network element wherein the signal comprises at least one resource block; and receiving an information block comprising: a first indication of a number of resource blocks that are active within a communication cell of the wireless communication system; and a second indication of a number of resource blocks per subcarrier used for coverage limited wireless communication units, wherein the second indication is of a reduced first number of resource blocks when operating in the first extended coverage mode of operation compared to a second number of resource blocks when the wireless communication unit is operating in the second non-extended coverage mode of operation.
A wireless device in a wireless communication system operates in either extended or normal coverage mode. The device receives a signal with at least one resource block on a frequency carrier from a network element. The device also receives an information block containing: the total number of active resource blocks in the cell, and the number of resource blocks allocated to devices needing extended coverage, wherein the number of resource blocks for extended coverage devices is lower than the number used in normal coverage mode. This allows the device to adapt its communication based on coverage conditions.
17. A non-transitory tangible computer program product comprising executable code stored therein for communicating in an increased coverage area in a wireless communication system, wherein the code is operable for, when executed at a wireless communication unit, performing the method of claim 16 .
A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium contains code that, when executed on a wireless device, performs the method of receiving a signal with at least one resource block on a frequency carrier from a network element, and receiving an information block containing: the total number of active resource blocks in the cell, and the number of resource blocks allocated to devices needing extended coverage, wherein the number of resource blocks for extended coverage devices is lower than the number used in normal coverage mode.
18. A wireless communication unit in a wireless communication system, capable of operating in a first extended coverage mode of operation and a second non-extended coverage mode of operation, the wireless communication unit comprising: a receiver for receiving: a signal on a frequency carrier from a network element wherein the signal comprises at least one resource block; and an information block comprising: a first indication of a number of resource blocks that are active within a communication cell of the wireless communication system; and a second indication of a number of resource blocks per subcarrier being used for coverage limited wireless communication units, wherein the second indication is of a reduced first number of resource blocks when operating in a first extended coverage mode of operation compared to the second number of resource blocks when operating in the second non-extended coverage mode of operation; and a control processor, operably coupled to the receiver and arranged to decode the signal to determine how many resource blocks to use in subsequent communications with the network element.
A wireless device in a wireless communication system has a receiver and a control processor and can operate in extended or normal coverage mode. The receiver receives a signal with at least one resource block from the network element, and it receives an information block including: the number of active resource blocks in the communication cell; and a number of resource blocks per subcarrier that are being used for coverage limited devices. The coverage limited devices use a reduced number of resource blocks compared to the devices operating in non-extended coverage mode. The control processor decodes the received signal and determines how many resource blocks to use in later communications.
19. An integrated circuit for a wireless communication unit configured to operate in a wireless communication system, comprising: a control processor arranged to decode a signal received on a frequency carrier from a network element wherein the signal comprises at least one resource block; and decode an information block comprising: a first indication of a number of resource blocks that are active within a communication cell of the wireless communication system; and a second indication of a number of resource blocks per subcarrier being used for coverage limited wireless communication units, wherein the second indication is of a reduced first number of resource blocks when the wireless communication unit is operating in the first extended coverage mode of operation compared to the second number of resource blocks when operating in a second non-extended coverage mode of operation.
An integrated circuit for a wireless device includes a control processor and is configured to operate in a wireless communication system. The control processor decodes a signal received on a frequency carrier from a network element, where the signal has at least one resource block. It also decodes an information block including: the number of resource blocks that are active within a communication cell; and the number of resource blocks per subcarrier being used for coverage limited devices, where the number is reduced when operating in extended coverage compared to normal coverage mode. This chip enables the device to understand and utilize coverage information.
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November 2, 2012
May 16, 2017
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